Grade 3 · Unit 2: Looking after ourselves

An unhealthy diet

What happens if we eat too many sweets?

Sweets, cakes and fizzy drinks contain lots of sugar.

Too much sugar

Sugar gives energy, but too much is unhealthy. Germs in our mouth feed on sugar and make acid. The acid makes holes in our teeth. This is tooth decay.

Brushing your teeth twice a day and eating fewer sweets keeps teeth strong. Fluoride toothpaste helps too.

Too much fat and salt

Fried foods like chips and some snacks have lots of fat. Eating too much fat can make people put on too much weight. Too much salt is bad for the heart.

Fat and salt are not bad in small amounts. The problem is eating too much of them, too often.

Too little of what we need

An unhealthy diet can also mean too little of the foods we need. Without enough vitamins, people get ill more often. Without enough vitamin A, people may find it hard to see in dim light.

Long ago, sailors on long voyages got ill because they ate no fresh fruit. Their illness was cured by eating lemons and oranges, which have vitamin C.

Making good choices

Choose a fruit or some nuts as a snack instead of sweets. Read the label on food packets to see how much sugar, fat and salt they contain. Treats are fine sometimes – just not every day.

What I learnt